Cigarette machine



Jan. l2, 1943.`

IA. v. WILLIAMS CIGARETTE MACHINE Filq o ct. 1o. 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 L NM \N M. E *.mwllm. Y

Jan. 12, 1943. A. v. WILLIAMS CIGARETTE MACHINE Filed ct. 1o, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 v continuous rod process are as follows:

bacco ller in the form of loose vermicular shreds l Patented Jan. 12,v 1943 uNiTso STATES,

v"rsNT-oFr1c1s CIGARETTE MACHINE Alfred Valentine Williams, Richmond, Va., assignor to Molins Machine Company, Inc., Richmond, Va., a corporation of New York I Application October 10, 1939, Serial No. 298,830

9 Claims.

The invention has for its general objects the 5 provision of novel and improved methods and?.Y apparatus for forming a cigarette rod with a minimum of disturbance of the original4 haphazard arrangement of the shreds of the tobacco ller as showered from the hopper to provide the 10 longitudinally moving stream from which the rod is formed.

Broadly considered, the successive steps in the The tois deposited upon an endless conveyor tape,'movf ing through a lling channel, to form a narrow continuous stream of tobacco shreds which are disposed in a completely irregular or haphazard the stream of filler is usually, although'not in allv cases, passed beneath a compacting wheel in order to give a preliminary compression to the tobacco to prevent it being piled too high on the conveyor, the peripheral speed of the Wheel being equal to the linear speed of the tobacco stream so that the irregular interlacing or mingling of the shreds is not altered.

The'paper Wrapper is unreeled from the bobbin in a continuous strip and is either fed to the tape Dstrip is then carried throughthe rod forming channel or garniture preferably by means of a second endless tape conveyor. The garniture is provided With a tapering channel of diminishing substantially U-shaped cross-section through which the tape, the paper, and the filler move,

and by-means of which there is effected the pro-` gressive forming of the paper and filler into the cylindrical cigarette rod. The garniture block is provided with spaced plates or flanges which edges of the Wrapper, and is also equipped with paste applying and drying devices for effecting the sealing of the rod.

Over the initial converging portion of the forming channel -there is disposed a compression 50 tongue having a tapering or convergent substan-v tially semiconical undersurface, complementary to that portion of the forming channel in providing a narrowing throat into which the tobacco practically the only element Which comes into frictional Contact with the tobacco itself during its travel and it is Yimportant that this contact With its resulting drag on the tobacco stream shall not disturb or disarrange the irregular and haphazard formation of the tobacco shreds nor tend l.to align these shreds longitudinally of the axis ofthe stream. Prior theories and conceptions of the problem have gone upon the premise that the Working surface of the tongue should be as smooth, even, and unbroken as possible, with the idea of reducing the friction or drag to an absolute minimum; but the drag,V even in the case of a perfectly smooth surface, has been found to be appreciable, and positive evidences of Wear can be detected upon an inspection of a tongue which has been in use for some time.

The dislocation and tendency toward alignment of the shreds or particles has a number of manner. While in the filling trough orV channel 20n dis-advantages, among which may be mentioned the chance of non-uniformity in the mass'or denshreds, When straightened out vor aligned, to resume their original conguration. This eiect is variable and depends upon the nature and condi` tion of the tobacco, the stateV of the atmosphere, and the methods of manufacture pursued.

I Vhave discovered that the dislocation and strain of the shreds of the tobacco stream may be minimized by certain modications of the compression tongue in accordance with the present invention. Contrary to preconceptions, it h-as beeniound that the application of certain undulations or'interruptions in the Working surface of the tongue has `a beneficial effect upon the tobacco stream in preventing the deleterious consequences to which reference has been made. LThese alternate constrictions and enlargements 'in the tongue channel, apparently through alternately contracting and releasing the tobacco n stream, allow the tension or strain and the tendency toward axial alignment of the' shreds to be dissipated before the final enclosure and sealing eiect the nal folding and overlapping of the theseveral expedients forming the subject of thepresent invention. have been effective in `eliminating the diiculties and eiects described, and in improving the quality of the nished product.

. I t istherefore a more particular object of the inventionrto provide a'rcompression tongue, the inner ,generallysemiconical surface of-,Which Vis modiedjby the application thereto of either stastream is fed. This compression tongue is thus5 itionary or movableprotrusions which constrici;

the cross-sectional area of the channel of the tongue, each protrusion followed by an enlargement, recess, or cut-away portion, which permits an expansion or release of the stream after the disturbance or compression caused by the constriction. In certainv embodiments there may be provided cut-away portions or recesses only, let into the conical wall; and whether one or more than one of such recesses or of such constrictions shall be employed, depends upon the nature of the tobacco and other variable factors.

Movable or rotatable elements projecting through the walls of the tongue feature certain other illustrated embodiments of the invention and, obviously a number of other similar expedients may be suggested by the present specification and drawings as falling within the broad scope of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the rod forming portion of a cigarette machine embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the same section of the machine in side elevation, part being shown in vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal' vertical sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale of the compression tongue to which the present improvement is applied;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view t of a portion of this tongue;

Figure 5 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section, similar to Figure 3, but showing another embodiment of the invention on a further enlarged scale;

Figure 7 is a similar View of still another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View in side elevation of a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a broken View in longitudinal vertical section of a still further modification;

Figure 11 is an end view of the same;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view of the mldsection of another embodiment; and

Figure 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same embodiment.

For convenience in'describing the invention, reference is made to the embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings and specific language is used. t will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is,

thereby intended, Various further modifications and alterations of the illustrated embodiment being contemplated such as would occur to one skilled in the art.

The rod forming member or garniture, and its accessory devices are shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings in somewhat diagrammatic fashion. The garniture proper comprises the elongated block IG provided with a channel I2 extending throughout the length thereof and beingv of substantially U-shaped cross section. The inlet end of the channel I2 is considerably wider than the intermediate portion and the channel tapers gradually in width as at I2' from the right hand or inlet end to an intermediate point in order to provide a converging passageway for effecting the-gradual narrowing and shaping of the tobacco stream to form the cylindrical cigarette rod. Upon opposite sides of the upper surface of the block I6 adjacent the converging channel I2' there are secured the plates or blocks I3 and I4,

asoa'sz the inner edges of these blocks being inclined to the same degree as the convergence of the walls of the channel I2'.

An endless tape conveyor indicated at I5 passes through the channel I2 and carries upon its upper surface the continuous strip of cigarette paper or wrapper I6. Prior to reaching the right hand end of the garniture illustrated in Figures l and 2 there will have been deposited upon the wrapper strip I5 a stream of shredded tobacco filler indicated in the drawings at 20. This filler may be deposited in any suitable manner as for example by being showered down from a hopper upon a conveyor tape or upon the paper wrapper ,which is fed through a filling channel, such as for example as shown in the patent to W. E. Molins, No. 2,149,924.

From the tapered converging groove or channel I2' the tape I5 with its superposed wrapper I6 and stream of tobacco 20 passes into the narrower portion of the channel I2 and under a plate 22 which provides an arched roof for the channel and which serves to fold one edge of the wrapper strip over the top of the tobacco stream which is now of a substantially cylindrical forni approximating the size and shape of the cigarette rod desired. The other side edge of the wrapper strip passes vertically into the slot 24 between the plate I4 and the block 22. Beyond this point the plate I4 terminates and' the block 22 is cut away upon its upper surface to accommodate the cooperating gumming roller 25 and presser roller 26. After the adhesive has been applied to one side of the upstanding edge of the wrapper this edge is folded down upon the cigarette rod by the cooperation of the curved and beveled surface 28 of the block 22 and the overlapping iiange 29 of the plate 36 which is secured to the garniture as by means of the fastening elements 3l. Beyond the end of the plate 30 there is disposed a heating member 32 (shown in Figure 2) which eifectively dries the adhesive and permanently seals the cigarette rod which emerges from the garniture as shown at 35 ready to be severed into appropriate lengths, delivered from the machine, and packaged for distribution and sale.

Above the converging portion I2 of the forming channel I2 in the garniture there is disposed a compression tongue 40 having a tapered body portion 4I of substantially semiconical configuration, this resulting in the formation of an inverted U-shaped groove or trough 42 of diminishing cross-sectional area upon the underside of the tongue. The groove or trough 42 thus forms in cooperation with the channel portion I2 a narrowing or converging throat for the reception and the shaping of the stream of tobacco 20 and its wrapper I6 into cylindrical rod-like form, by the time the stream reaches the end of the tongue adjacent the block 22. Y

The compression tongue member 4i) is provided with an inverted L-shaped supporting ange 45, the horizontal portion of which overlies the horizontal ange of an inverted L-shaped'bracket 46, the vertical ange of which is secured to the garniture block I6 as by means of the bolts 41 passing through slots 48 in the member 46. A bolt 50 serves to secure the supporting flange 45 of the tongue to the bracket 46 and the horizontal position of the tongue member 40 with respect to the garniture is adjustable by means of the set screws52. The vertical position of the bracket 46 with relation to the garniture may be regulated by means of the set screws 53 which bear upon the upper surface of the plate I3.

As showered upon the conveyor in the filling channel `the shreds in the tobacco stream extend in all directions in a thoroughly irregular and haphazard manner. As already pointed out, it is highly desirable to maintain this irregular and haphazard mingling of the shreds of tobacco in the cigarette rod and in the eventual cigarettes. Heretofore, the surface o-f the groove or channel 42 of the compression tongues has been made perfectly smooth and of a regularly graduated taper in order to compress the upper portion of the tobacco stream being Vcarired through vthe garniture upon the conveyor so that it will be reduced, along with the lower portion of the stream passing through the forming channel upon the conveyor tape, to cigarette diameter. Regardless of how smooth the groove in the compression tongue has been formed, there is always some amount of drag upon the upper surface of the tobacco stream which causes a certain amount of displacement of the uppermost shreds or particles relative to the shreds or particles comprising the lower portion of the stream which, being supported upon the conveyor tape and cigarette wrapper, have no frictional contact with the forming channel in the garniture block. The dislocation caused by the frictional drag of the compression tongue tends to cause a straightening out or axial alignment of the shreds, and this results in varying somewhat the mass or density of the cigarette filler, and also in placing the naturally curly shreds under tension or internal strain which causes them to tend to resume their original configuration after the cigarette rod is severed. This tendency is more pronounced with some types of tobacco-than with others, and also varies in accordance with the condition of the tobacco and of the atmosphere.

Figures 2, 3, l and 5 illustrate one embodiment of the invention by means of which this tendency of the shreds of the tobacco ller to become dislocated and aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stream, is substantially overcome. At a point intermediate the length of the body 4l of the tongue there is provided an interruption in the smooth tapered contour ofthe groove or channel 42 in the form of an inclined enlargement or projection 60, the cross-sectional contour of the portion 60 being substantially crescent shaped as indicated in Figure 5, the edges of the enlargement merging with the edges of the tongue. The further end of the enlargement BE terminates on an abrupt shoulder V62 beyond which the gradual uniform taper ofthe groove is resumed and continued to the end of the tongue. The effect of the constriction of the groove 42 by means of the protuberance or enlargement 60 is to compress the tobacco stream at a slightly more rapid rate and thenrto suddenly release the compression thereon and free the stream for resumption of its relatively unstressed condition, at least temporarily until the converging walls of the channel or groove again resume their gradual compressive action.

For certain types of tobacco and under certain atmospheric conditions, one of such constrictions of the groove 42 will be sufficient tocorrect the possible tendency toward dislocation-or alignment of the shreds, but in certain cases it has been found desirable to increase the number of such constrictions in order to provide a series of intermittent compression and expansion effects on the tobacco stream as provided in the tongue #0A illustrated in Figure 6 of the draw'- ings in which four enlargements or projections 60a are provided, each one being followedA by an expansion space beyond the shoulders 62a.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figure '7 of the drawings in which a series of shoulders B2b are provided in the regularly tapered surface of the groove 42, without any preliminary constriction as afforded by the initial enlargements 60 and 60a in the preceding embodiments. Between adjacent shoulders 62h are the tapered wall sections 65 which provide recesses into which the upper portion of the tobacco streams may expand, the intermittent compressions land expansions having a similar beneficial effect upon the ller to that described in connection with the previous embodiments.

A still further modification of the tongue is shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings in which the tongue member 40C is provided with a slot 68 in the upper wall of its semi-conical body portion 4I. Projecting into this slot are the peripheral portions 69 of the wheels. o-r rollers l0 which are carried on inclined axles ll supported in the prism-shaped block l2 which is in turn secured as by means of the screws 'i4 to the bracket 'l5 carried by the -body portion 4| of the tongue. In this embodiment the periphery 69 of the rollers 1U may be of a concave profile and they cooperate to provide a constriction of the groove 42 just as in the case of the previously described embodiments; but since the rollers are free to turn upon their axles during the passage of the stream of tobacco there is somewhat less drag upon the upper surface of the stream. Other types of movable protuberances forming constrictions in the groove of the compression tongue and having similar effects to the rollers 10, may be employed.

In the compression tongue 40D illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, the conical body portion 4I is provided with a thin longi-A tudinal rib which substantially bisects the trough of the tongue and provides means for4 pressing the tobacco, for a considerable period,V during its passage through the tongue, into more.

positive contact with the Wrapper on the travel-- ling belt and thus relieves the drag on the upper surface of the tobacco stream to some extent. The rib 80 is provided with a curved or tapered portion 8l adjacent its forward end to provide a smooth or streamlined portion at the entrance of the groove, and the rib terminates at 82 a short distance before the end of the tongue is reached. .v

The rib 8U may also be used with benecial results in connection with the protuberances or enlargements provided upon the interior surface of the tongue, as shown in FiguresY 12 and 13 of the drawings. In these figures the enlargements are indicated at 60e and the modied tongue is given the general designation dE. Y

Various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments illustrated and described hereinvwithout departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined lby the followingV claims. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letmovable through said channel and providing the sole means for feeding a stream of tobacco therethrough, a stationary compression element having a groove or trough therein of substantially inverted U-shaped cross section,` disposed above said channel and cooperating therewith to compress the moving tobacco stream to the proportions of the desired rod, said element being provided upon its internal tobacco contacting surface with a succession of means for intermittently increasing theY rate of compression of the tobacco stream beyond that aiforded by the gradual taper of the general configuration of. the Working surface of the element, each of said means being immediately followed by means for abruptly relieving said increased compression before resumption of said gradual taper.

2. In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, in combination, a rod forming garniture having a converging channel of substantially U- shaped cross section therein, an endless conveyor movable through said channel and providing the sole means for feeding a stream of tobacco therethrough, a stationary compression element having a groove or trough therein of substantially inverted U-shaped cross section, disposed above said channel and cooperating therewith to com-- press the moving tobacco stream to the proportions of the desired rod, said element being provided at an intermediate point upon its internal tobacco contacting surface with means for increasing the rate of compression of the tobacco stream beyond that afforded by the gradual taper of the general coniiguration of the Working surface of the element, said means being immediately followed by means for relieving said increased compression before resumption of said gradual taper.

3. In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, in combination, a rod forming garniture having a converging channel of substantially U- shaped cross section therein, an endless conveyor movable through said channel and providing the sole means for feeding a stream of tobacco therethrough, a stationary unitary compression element having a groove or trough therein of substantially inverted U-shaped cross section, disposed above said channel and cooperating therewith to compress the moving tobacco stream to the proportions of the desired rod, said element being provided upon its internal tobaccocontacting surface with means for temporarily relieving the compression or drag exerted upon the stream of tobacco at an intermediate point during its passage throughA said channel.

4. In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, in combination, a rod forming garniture having a converging channel of substantially U- shaped cross section therein, an endless conveyor movable through said channel and providing the sole means for feeding a stream of tobacco therethrough, a stationary unitary compression element having a groove or trough therein of substantially inverted U-shaped cross section, disposed above said channel and cooperating therewith to compress the moving tobacco stream to the proportions of the desired rod, said element being provided upon its internal tobacco-contacting surface with a succession of means for intermittently relieving the compression or` drag exerted upon the stream of tobacco at successive points during its passage through said channel.

5. In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, in combination, a rod forming garniture having a converging channel of substantially U- shaped cross section therein, an endless conveyor movable throughI said channel and providing the sole means for feeding a stream of tobacco therethrough, a stationary compression tongue comprising a converging or tapered member of generally U-shaped cross section providing a groove or channel therein of diminishing cross-sectional area, said tongue being formed within the groove with an intermediate portion, considered in the direction of tobacco feed of abnormally decreased cross-sectional area..

6. In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, in combination, a rod forming garniture having a converging channel of substantially U- shapedl cross section therein, lan endless conveyor movable through said channel land providing the sole means for feed-ing a stream of tobacco therethrough,4 a stationary compression tongue comprising a converging or tapered member of generally U-shaped cross section providing a groove or channel therein of diminishing cross-sectional area, said tongue being formed within the groove with alternate constrictions and enlargements at successive points longitudinally thereof.

7. In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, in combination, a rod forming garniture having a converging channel of substantially U- shaped cross section therein, an endless conveyor movable through said` channel and providing the sole means for feeding a stream of tobacco there-- through, a stationary compression tongue comprising a converging or tapered member of generally U-shaped cross section providing a groove or channel the-rein of diminishing cross-sectional area, said tong-ue member being formed within the groove with alternating gradual constrictions and. abruptv enlargements at successive points therealong.

8. In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, in combination, arod forming garniture having a converging channel of substantially U- shaped cross section therein, an endless conveyor movable through said channel and providing the sole means for feeding a stream of tobacco therethrough, a stationary compression tongue comprising a converging or tapered member of generally UV-shaped cross section providing a groove or channel therein of diminishing cross-sectional area, said tongue being formed within the groove with transverse corrugations.

9. As an article of manufacture, a compression tongue for use in conjunction with the rodforming garniture of a cigarette making machine, said tongue comprising a converging or tapered member ofv generally U-shaped cross section providing a groove or channel therein of diminishing crosssectional area, said tongue being provided with a. narrow rib extendingI longitudinally thereof and substantially bisecting said groove, and said tongue being formed within the groove with an intermediateportion of: abnormally decreased transverse cross-sectional" area.

VALENTINE WILLIAMS. 

